Family challenge for the School Holidays.

During the school holidays see if your family can meet this challenge!!

RHKids Unplugs Parents Guide

Why is it so important to unplug and READ??

Keep your children reading during the holidays!!! Kids who read, succeed!!!

The Summer Reading Club is a great opportunity for school aged children to explore the amazing world of books and stories during the summer school holidays.
The library supports the SRC with fun activities for all children who participate, including ideas of interesting books to read! Summer Reading Club 2013 2014
 All children who register to participate in the SRC this year are invited to attend the Investigation! Party at Cavanbah Hall 21 Jan 2014, 1.00pm - 3.00pm

 For more information and further details visit Coffs Harbour City Library Summer Reading Club Website.

Special SRC event Making Picture Books Workshop with Aleesah Darlison Tuesday 14th January 2014. 

Some of our students had the wonderful experience of sharing a video conference with Aleesha Darlinson during 2012, which included the reading of her picture book, Puggle's Problem. Enjoy the reading of the story below.

Special SRC event Making Picture Books Workshop with Aleesah Darlison Tuesday 14th January 2014. Time: 10:00 - 11:30 at Coffs Harbour Library Cost: $5.00 per person. For ages 7 – 12 years. Bookings essential.
Aleesah, an author of children's picture books, provides an introduction to this exciting genre and leads children through exercises to create their very own picture book. Includes a writing and illustration component.

 Also during the holidays for times when you, or any other independent readers-think older siblings, grandparents, uncles, ... are not able to read to your child: Visit the Read to my Child website so your child does not miss out on this important daily developmental activity.

You can also use You Tube to Encourage Reading -a post by The Book Chook ."Use YouTube to entice your youngsters towards more wonderful picture books. You can find book trailers that give a sneak peek of the book's contents, but also there are whole picture book stories on YouTube."

Get your kids reading

To get them reading…….

                                    Give kids a choice

Research has shown that supportive home environments foster motivation for reading, which leads to more frequent voluntary reading, which improves reading achievement. Many collaborative interventions involving home and school have enhanced the reading motivation of struggling readers as they enhanced comprehension.

Being able to choose what they read encourages some so-called ‘reluctant readers’ to find their interest in reading.

·         No pressure — let children choose what they want to read
It is not the amount children read, it is that they want to read that is important, so let them choose things they want to read — even comics, magazines, cookbooks or appropriate websites.

·         Find out what others like
Peruse book reviews or lists or ask your local librarian what is ‘hot’ for kids to read. Find out what appeals to your children, rather than what appeals to you!

·         Listening is reading — consider audio books
Fluency with reading improves if children follow along as they are read to. Listen to audio books in the car, or download audio books onto your children’s iPods so they can listen to them privately.

·         Book groups are great
Ask your children if they’d like to get together with other children who might like to read and talk about a book. Try an ‘all boys’ book group or a grandparents–grandchild book group . . . any way to get kids talking about books.

                                        

Credit: Dean Terry | Flickr.com / Creative Commons License

·         Read anywhere and everywhere
Encourage your child to read to you menus, maps, train schedules, flavours at the ice-cream shop, specials at the supermarket, music and movie reviews — anything that interests them.

Advice sharedf rom http://www.scholastic.com.au/#

Kids' who read, succeed!!!

 Cheers :-)

April World Autism Day

 Let us all continue to join hands to enable people with autism and other neurological differences to realise their potential and enjoy the opportunities and well-being that are their birthright.

Ban Ki-moon: "Reaching out to people with autism spectrum disorders requires global political commitment and better international cooperation, especially in sharing good practices."

As highlighted by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, people with autism are equal citizens who should enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to learn more about the neurological condition which affects one in every hundred Australians. 

Struggling to help your child with Maths?

NSW Education and Communities provides plenty of practical tips for parents at the website:

schoolatoz  http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/

Maths A to Z

Maths help sheets

• Activity sheets for young learners (pre-school to Kindergarten)
• Help sheets for primary maths

Maths tips

Get expert advice and tips on how to support your child's learning and instil a love of maths.

Helping your child with primary school maths

VIDEO: Watch teachers talk about how parents can help their child with maths homework at a primary school level.

Helping your child with arithmetic

Kids generally have no problem sharing out lollies equally. Find out other quick and nifty ways to inspire your child to build on their maths skills.

and plenty more to explore!!